retro7

Sunday, December 28, 2014

1946/1947

Femininity was in full swing in 1946, After long, wartorn years of wearing suits, women turned to dresses again.
The curves that were so popular in 1945 were replaced by a more natural look. The shoulders and bosom were much more exposed this year, but never in a flamboyant way.
Even though Paris was short on just about everything but talent, designers did their best to keep their position as the fashion capital of the world.
An asymmetrical look was important in 1946. Long evening skirts swayed to one side. Dinner dresses appeared with just one shoulder strap. It was a very flattering look to the female figure.
Two popular suits, the cutaway suit and the bellhop suit, were very successful for designers. While not overly feminine, they still had a distinct look from man-tailored suits, and were exactly what women were looking for.
The Kiltie, a short pleated skirt which came in varied lengths, was a vital part of the playtime wardrobe.
With the end of the war, designers were finally able to dip into their array of beautiful fabrics again. Fine Irish linens returned and were used for simple things like day dresses, or for extravagant lace.
Embroidery was seen in almost every form: passementerie, jet beading, silk tassels, ball-fringe and more. Colors were delicate, pale blues and pinks, pale yellows and violet, were common color combinations.
Hats were trimmed with fantastic feathers. The tricorne, bicorne and tiny pillbox were popular hat shapes.
The ankle-length evening dress eclipsed the picture-skirted ball gowns in importance. Shoulders were covered by tiny boleros. Flowing capes draped over day dresses and evening gowns alike. One extravagant wrap was a greatcoat cut like a cape, lined with seal.
The feminine look was certainly aided by the fact that women could buy nylon stockings again. Also, with the rising of the hemline came a new focus on shoes.
Shoes were designed with grace. Gentle arches, high heels and ankle straps all gave the foot a renewed appeal.

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